Sept. 5, 2008
SAN DIEGO -
The San Diego State men's soccer team dropped a heartbreaking, 3-2, overtime decision to Michigan in its season opener Friday afternoon at SDSU Sports Deck in the first game of The Courtyard Marriott San Diego Central Tournament.
The Aztecs (0-1-0) had tied the game at 2-2 on freshman Daniel Steres' (Calabasas, Calif.) first career goal in the 87th minute to push the game to overtime. However, Mauro Fuzetti volleyed a shot into the upper-left corner 3:46 into the first overtime to give the Wolverines (3-0-0) the 3-2 victory.
SDSU arguably outplayed Michigan for most of the match, playing possession soccer while still finishing with a 15-10 advantage in shots, nine of which came in the second half. San Diego State also won the shots on goal battle (8-5), while each team had five corner kicks.
The Aztecs got on the scoreboard just 6:34 into the match when sophomore Raymundo Reza (Denver, Colo.) took a pass from junior Evan Toft (Aurora, Colo.) and tucked the ball into the left-corner of the net from about 12 yards. It was Reza's first career goal.
The Wolverines tried to answer in the 15th minute when Adam Keller found himself all alone after a cross. However, his header attempt was stopped by R.J. Smith (San Diego, Calif./Granite Hills HS). It was one of two saves for Smith, who was making his first collegiate start after transferring from UC Davis.
Toft tried to stretch SDSU's lead to two goals in the 18th minute when he ripped a shot from just inside the 15-yard mark. Michigan goalkeeper Patrick Sperry, however, made a nice save on the play before the ball was cleared out of harm's way.
In the 32nd minute, Smith made a diving save to his left on a header by Perica Marosevic. Just three minutes later, Marosevic settled a long cross by Matt Schmitt, and lofted a curving ball into the upper-right corner to tie the game up at 1-1.
San Diego State took back control of the game in the waning moments of the second half and had a good chance to score in the 42nd minute. Reza found himself free on the right side and fired a low shot that was deflected down by Sperry. Aztec sophomore Michael Rocha (Pasadena, Calif.) tied to pounce on the rebound but Sperry was able to corral the ball, giving the two squads a 1-1 tie heading into the break. At the intermission, SDSU had a slight 6-5 edge in shots with the Wolverines owning a 4-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Reza kept up his aggressive play early in the second half when he rifled another hard shot that was stopped by Sperry's diving save. On the ensuing counterattack, Schmitt dribbled into San Diego State's box and sent a ball to a wide-open Marosevic, who tucked it away into the right corner.
The score was Michigan's last real scoring opportunity of the second half as the Aztecs continued to apply the pressure. In the 59th minute, junior Nick Cardenas (Thornton, Colo.) took Toft's corner kick cross and appeared to have a good look at the goal right in front of the net. However, the unlucky header was put right at Sperry, one of his six saves in the contest.
At the 86:21 mark, San Diego State's persistence finally paid off when Steres received a ball from Reza and calmly slid the ball into the left corner to give the squad a 2-2 tie heading into the overtime session.
The Aztecs got control early in the overtime period until Wolverines took the ball back and mounted another counterattack against the run of play. On the play, Keller raced down the left sideline and sent a cross to a breaking Fuzetti. Fuzetti ended the game in the 94th minute when his one-touch shot found the back of the net.
Reza set career highs with three points, five shots and four on net in the loss for SDSU. Cardenas, Toft and Steres each added two attempts apiece.
San Diego State will play Albany at 1 p.m. Sunday at SDSU Sports Deck.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Sophomore Raymundo Reza earned Man of the Match after recording his first collegiate goal and assisting on another. Reza also set career-highs in points (three), shots (five) and shots on goal (four).